US attorney charges 26 in global basketball manipulation scandal
The integrity of professional and college basketball is under fire. Federal prosecutors in Philadelphia announced this Thursday the dismantling of a sophisticated transnational criminal organization accused of manipulating at least 30 basketball games. The network, which operated between the United States and China, allegedly recruited active players and alumni to influence outcomes through direct bribes.
According to prosecutor David Metcalf, the conspiracy "poisoned the competitive spirit" for financial gain, involving a network of professional bettors operating since September 2022.
The link with China and the trail of USD 200,000
The investigation traces the origin of the scheme to the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). Although not formally charged, former Chicago Bulls player Antonio Blakeney is mentioned in the complaint. Authorities state that conspirators recruited Blakeney during his time with the Jiangsu Dragons to influence the score.
At the end of the 2022-23 season, investigators found USD 200,000 (R$ 1.08 million) in cash in a deposit owned by the player in Florida, money that allegedly formed part of the payments for his cooperation in the scheme.
Infiltration in the NCAA: USD 30,000 bribes
After financial success in Asia, the organization expanded its operations to the United States, focusing on men’s NCAA Division I basketball. The details of the accusation are alarming for sports betting operators:
- Scope: The group offered bribes to more than 39 college players.
- Payments: Offers of up to USD 30,000 (R$ 162,000) per game were recorded for athletes to play below their usual level.
- Volume: The network moved millions of dollars in illegal bets leveraging insider information and fixed results.
Currently, more than a dozen of the accused are former college competitors. If found guilty of sports bribery, they could face up to five years in federal prison.
A history of crises in the NBA
This case adds to a series of blows to the transparency of American sports. Just last October, the arrest of Terry Rozier (Miami Heat) for leaking confidential injury information and of Chauncey Billups (former Blazers coach) for ties to illegal poker rings linked to the mafia had already raised alarms in professional leagues.
For regulated operators, these incidents underscore the urgent need to invest in advanced odds monitoring systems and early warning alerts. Match manipulation not only affects the credibility of the sport but also poses a direct financial risk to sportsbooks operating under the law.
Tags: United States, USA, manipulation of betting results, Basketball betting fraud